Press

Not only is the DREAM Act a commonsense bill that will strengthen the American military and economic security, it has the backing of leaders from both sides of the aisle, the President, Department of Defense and the Secretaries of Homeland Security and Education. I urge the Senate to follow the House of Representative’s lead in voting to give these young people the opportunity to achieve the American dream.

A majority of service members believe that those who are willing to offer their service should be able to do so without regard to their sexual orientation. And across the country, a majority of Americans believe the time has come to end ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.’

There are very few actions more praiseworthy than the decision to put one’s life at risk in order to protect the safety of one’s fellow Americans as a member of our nation’s armed forces – so it is time that we end the discriminatory practice of preventing any individual brave enough to make that decision from serving in the military on the sole basis of their sexual orientation. The Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell policy is outdated and unjustified and it is time we consigned it to the dustbin of history.